Car-seal.



L. S. GIBSON.

GAR SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1914.

L132,@Q6, Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

UN ED STAELST cr m LEE SAMUEL GIBSON, or WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE SAMUEL GIBSON, of the city of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Seals, of which the following is the specification.

The invention relates to improvements in car seals and the primary object of the invention is to provide a seal which can be applied on a car to lock the same without the use of a seal press and also one which cannot be undone without actuallyv destroying the seal making it, so thatit can be readily detected when tampered with.

A secondary object of the invention is to provide an effective seal of simple construction which can be manufactured at small cost.

With the above objects in view the invention' consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter more particularly described and later pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the complete seal in the open or unlocked position. Fig. 2 represents an end view of the same, the seal strap being broken away. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the parts appearing in Fig. 2. the section being taken in the plane denoted by the line XX in said Fig. 2-. Fig. 4 represents a side view of the more or less Z-shaped locking member of the seal. Fig. 5 represents an end view of the casing. Fig. 6 represents a cross sectional view through the portion shown in Fig. 4c, the section being taken in the plane denoted by the line Y-Y Fig. 4. Fig. 7 represents a horizontal sectional view through the parts appearing in Fig. 3, the section being taken in the plane denoted by the line ZZ in said figure.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

The seal comprises in reality two parts, a casing 1 and a locking member 2, the locking member extending into a strap 3.

The casing 1 is formed from a rectangular piece of sheet metal bent more'or less in a reversed 6 shape thereby providing a top piece 4, a bottom piece 5, an intermediate piece 6 and shallow and deep side walls 7 and 8.

The locking member 2 is formed from a long strip of metal having one end bent CAR-SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnt gd :M 16, 1915 Application filed May 25, 1914. Serial No. 840,895. i

backwardly and forwardly on itself in a Z -shaped manner and the opposite end formed into a catch 9. The Z-shaped end of the strip is arranged such that the bottom loop 2 thereof will pass between the portions 5 and 6 of the casing and between the side walls thereof and the extremity 2 thereofbetween the portions 4 andv 6 of the casing in which position they are shown in F1gs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The side members of the loop 2 carry at their opposlte edges two more or less V-shaped lockng wings 10 and 11, the one being downturned and the other up -turned. These wings present each a more or less vertically disposed end 12 which ends are directly opposing.

The catch 9 heretofore referred to is formed with two similar wedge shaped side notches 9' and 9 thereby providing in the catch a narrow neck 9 and two outstanding and opposing shoulders 9 and 9 13 is a cross or stop rib located on the catch end of the strip and designed to abut the end of the casing when the catch is inserted in the casing. In actual practice the side of the casing is closed in as is also the forward end by soldering as shown at 14.

In using the seal as above described the strap is looped through the part to be locked in the usual way and the catch 9 is then forced into the casing between the side portions of the loop 2. As it passes in the advancing end of the catch engages or rides on the wings and spreads the sides of the loop 2 within the casing. At the instant the rib 13 abuts the end of the casing the advancing end of the catch is designed to clear the wings and take a position with the neck 9 thereof between the wings and the shoulders 9 and 9 bearing against the vertical ends 12 of the wings. The instant the catch is clear of the wings so to speak the loop 2 closes and the catch is then positively locked in the casing as it will be seen it cannot be withdrawn owing to the shoulders engaging with the vertical ends of the wings. As the advanced and following end of the catch within the casing is practically the same width as the inside of the casing it is impossible to move the catch laterally once it is locked in. Further it is impossible to withdraw the catch by the insertion of an instrument such as a knife blade in the open end of the casing. It will be seen that if the catch were raised or lowered by any such instrument it Will always be caught by one of the Wings at one side or the other.

With a seal constructed in the mannerabove described it is unnecessary to utilize a seal press as is now customarily done. The lock is finally completed as soon as the catch is forced in to the shoulder. I

For convenience in removing the seal I have slotted it as shown at 15. This slot allows the strap to be easily broken when the car is to be opened.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A- car seal comprising in combination, a casing and a locking member in the nature of an extending strap having one end bent backwardly on itself to form a spring loop, said loop being received within the casing and secured to the same and presentingv opposing upturned and downturned locking Wings and the other end formed into a catch designed to pass Within the loop, engage With and lock against the Wings, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A carseal comprising in combination, acasing and a locking member in the nature of an extending strap having one end bent backwardlyon itself to form a spring loop, said loop being received Within the casing and secured to the same and presenting opposing upturned and doWnturned Wings and the other end formedinto a'catch' having Wedge shaped side notches therein, said catch being designed to enter the loop and engage With and lock against the Wings, the

wings in the locking position passing ithin the notches of the catch, as and for the purpose specified.

Signed at Winnipeg this 24: day of April,

LEE SAMUEL GIBSON. In the presence of G. S. ROXBURG, ROLAND FOSTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

